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‘Planned eysore will gobble up the road’
Objections to a glass fronted housing development in south Twickenham have been glazed over by the borough's planning committee and stamped for approval.
Plans to replace the existing three-storey semi-detached block of two houses in Waldegrave Road with a modern four-storey block of five flats were given the go ahead despite objections from neighbours.
A number of those neighbours turned out at last Thursday's meeting of the borough planning committee at York House. They were in agreement with Councillor Clare Head when she said: "Waldegrave Road should not be confused with the Manhatten skyline."
| “The whole [of Waldegrave Road] will be gobbled up before we know it.” | | Thelma Drairsey |
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Coun Head added that the windows would be "grossly intrusive and inappropriate for the location", and that the overall look was out of keeping and character with the area.
She said: "The only people with the right to impose their tastes on the look of this development are the people who are going to be living next door and they have been ignored."
Thelma Drairsey, of Waldegrave Road, who lives a few doors up from the development, said: "I just don't think they listened to us. This decision had been made well before Thursday's meeting."
Speaking at the meeting, Coun Martin Elengorn, cabinet member for the environment, who sits on the planning committee, said: "As this is not a conservation area, design is a subjective matter.
"There is no merit in protecting this part of Waldegrave Road."
However, Mrs Drairsey said: "People are going to be scared to put their houses on the market for fear the same developers will buy them.
"The whole of Waldegrave Road will be gobbled up before we know it."
4:20pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Deborah, TW1 on 11:10am Thu 27 Mar 08
The council making another planning error? Never!
The council making another planning error? Never!
Posted by: Cllr James Mumford, Teddington on 2:29pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Actually, it was a very close vote, and if one of the Conservative Councillors had turned up on time, the application would have been defeated.
The modern design of the new block was sloppy and too much of the grounds were given over to cars rather than greenery.
The area will be ruined if every single detached house is replaced by uninspiring blocks such as this - just look at the corner of Fairfax Road and Cromwell Road in Teddington for a preview.
National Planning laws are set by a Government in the pockets of housebuilders, and local authorities struggle to keep fighting against vested interests motivated by profit alone.
Actually, it was a very close vote, and if one of the Conservative Councillors had turned up on time, the application would have been defeated.
The modern design of the new block was sloppy and too much of the grounds were given over to cars rather than greenery.
The area will be ruined if every single detached house is replaced by uninspiring blocks such as this - just look at the corner of Fairfax Road and Cromwell Road in Teddington for a preview.
National Planning laws are set by a Government in the pockets of housebuilders, and local authorities struggle to keep fighting against vested interests motivated by profit alone.
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